The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-11-17

NOR OF fear. And now bailiff approaches,
and Selling Parsons robe passed leathern
strap around his ankles In moment they
we:e closely pintoned together: Engel's
legs were next strapped together, and
when the official approached Fischer
the latter Strengthened up bis tall figure
to its full height, and placed his
ankles close together to facilitate the opera
ton Spies was the last, but he was the first
around whose neck the fatal cord was
placed. One of the attendant bailiRs seized
the moose in front of Spies, and passed it
deftly over tho doomed mans head. It
caught over his right ear, but Spies, with .
shake Of his head. cast it down around his
neck. and then the bailif frightened it till it
touched the warm flesh. and carefully placed
the knot beneath the left ear. When the
officer approached, Fischer threw back his
head and barred bis long, muscular throat by
the movement Fischer's neck was very
long, and the moose nestled snugly
around it. When It was frightened around
his windripe Fischer turned around to Spies
and laughing.y whispered something in
Spies ear. But the latter either did not hear
him. or else was too much occupied with
other thoughts to pay attention Eugel
smiled down at the crowd and then turning
to Deputy Peters, who guarded him, smiled
gratefully toward him and whispered some-
thing to the officer that seemed to affect him
1t looked at first as it Engel was about to
salute his guard with kiss, but he evidently
satisfied himself with some word of peace
Parson face never moved a. the moose
dropped over his head, but the same terrible
fixed look was on his face
NO SPEECHES.
And now the people were expecting that
the speeches for which tho four doomed
ones craved twenty minutes each this morn
ing would be delivered, but to everyone's
surprise. the officers who had adjusted the
moose proceeded to fit on the white cap
without delay. It was first placed on Spies
head, completely hiding his head and face.
Just before the cap was pulled over Fischer's
head, Deputy Spears turned his eyes up to
meet those of the tall young anarchist
Fischer smiled down on his guard just as
pleasantly as Engel did on his. and he
seemed to be Whispering some words OF for
giveness, but it may have been otherwise,
IS not even the faintest echo reached
the men in the corridor below.
Engel and Parsons soon donned their white
caps after this, and now the four men stood
unon the scatfold clad from top to toe in
pure white All was ready now for the sig
nal to let the drop fall In the little box ut
the hack nf rho aud faotono6 tn
wall the invisible executioner stood with az
poised, ready to cut tho cord that neld them
between earth and heaven. The men had
not noticed this, but they KIN ew the end was
near. For IN instant there was dead sill
ence, and then mournfuI, solemn voice
sounded from behind the first right hand
mask and cut the air like wal! of sorrow
and of warning: Spies was speaking from
behind his shroud. The words seemed to
drop into the cold, silent air like pellets of
fire
THEIR LAST WORDS
Here is what he said: at is not meet that
1 should speak here. where my silence is
more terrible than my utterances" Then
a deeper, stronger voice came out with q
muf1led mysterious cadence from behind the
white pail that hid the face of Fischer. He
OAly SPOKE elEuG WOiuS: "lulS IS Uuc nap
piest moment of my lifc" But the next
voice that caught up the refrain was differ
ent one 1t was firm, and the melancholy
wall was not in it. 1t was harsh, loud. ex-
ultunt "Hurrah for anarchy, hurrah.' were
the LAST words and the last cheer of George
EngeL But now the weird and ghastly
scene was brought to climax, Par
sons alone remained to speak Out from
behind his mask there was a more dreary,
reproach1ul tone in it than even in Spies.
"May be allowed to speak? On, men of
America" he cried. sMay be allowed the
privi.e ge OF speech even at the last moment?
Hearken to the voice of the people," There
was sudden pause. Parsons never spoke a
word more. A sharp, creaking noise, a
crash. q sickening, cracking sound. and
Spies, Parsons. Fischer and Engel were no
| more. When the pulse beats Of all became
! imperceptible. which was about 1910
O'Clock. the physicians sat down ana the
! bodies swung back and forth, while the depr,.
| ties stood above them. There was con-
! tinua' shifting of seats after the physicians
! lett the bodies and nearly all who could gel